SL 04.3 - Xmas LAN

SL 04.2 - Summer LAN

Information and facilities

What is a ShinyLAN?

ShinyLAN is a 72 hour social gaming event. We play lots of PC games over the network but we mix in a lot of board games, card games plus random fun stuff such as our pub quiz or LOLympics. We often BBQ one evening.

What is the venue like?

The hall has a main room we set up the PC's in, a side room we use as our social area for board games plus a seperate room for sleeping. There is a kitchen with cookers and a microwave but fridge space is limited. Toilets but no showers so get your stink on.

By car: Wincanton is just off the A303 so very accessable. There is a large public car park outside the hall.

Public transport: Castle Cary and Bruton stations are both about 15mins away. If you need a lift get in touch. Berrys coaches (Taunton - London) stop right outside the hall.

Where can I get food?

There is a co-op a few mins walk away and supermarket a few mins drive, just by the A303.

Wincanton High Street has Chinese, Chips, Kebab, Indian and pub food all within a few minutes walk.

If you wish to use the kitchen please clean up after (there is a dishwasher). Cutlery, plates and cups are provided but bring your own pots, pans and utensils. There are cookers, microwave, kettle but limited fridge space.

Can I bring alcohol?

Of course, just drink [it all] responsibly.

How old do I have to be?

At the moment the events are 18+ only but we are working on this so if you are 16+ please contact us.

Normally you can just arrive, plug in and log on. However, if you share your internet connection from your PC you might need to disable this. We can help - just ask.

Who are you?

The staff changes from time to time but currently the events are oganised by: Ed (profet), Dave (Potshot), Alec (Noodleman) and Connor (Stoolbed). We operate the LANs on a not for profit basis.

History

Back in the premordial soup that was the beginning of the millenium a bunch of teenage gamers decided to gather at Wincanton Memorial Hall in Somerset with our PC's, piles of network cables, a few switches and a tangle of extension cables. The year was 2000, the internet was full of squealing, monitors were heavy and none of us could drive. Somerset's bring your own PC (BYOPC) LAN Party was born. From those humble beginnings we hosted several more gaming events with the help of Gigabits and we called ourselves ShinyLorry because, umm, just because.

From 2004 we decided to call ourselves ShinyLAN to avoid confusion with transport enthusiasts. At the same time many of the original crew went to university all over the country to pretend to learn about things for a bit while mostly getting drunk or high (with exceptions). Serveral different lovable reprobates stepped up over the years to help organise the events and LANs continued in Wincanton on our usual family unfriendly dates over Easter, August Bank Holiday and Boxing Day. We've had gamers attend from mainland Europe, others who live close enough to the venue to stumble home for a shower and real bed (shame on them). As the years have gone by our LAN Parties have become much more than just a room full of PC's linked up chasing frags. We are a large group of friends and we welcome like minded people to our laid back interpretation of what a LAN Party should be. We pride ourselves on our reputation as the social LAN.

A special mention to previous staff and crew that helped make the LANs happen: Matt (Intim), Rich (Excalliber), Lawrence (Mupet), Chris (Spud). And much love to all those that attendend over the years, we'll see you next time!